Episcopal Church of the Sudan Diocese of Khartoum

Episcopal Church of the Sudan Diocese of Khartoum Report for 2008 By Bishop Ezekiel Kondo 0

2008 report of ECS Diocese of Khartoum Thanks be to God who blessed and sustained us as a Diocese throughout the year 2008. His blessings are immeasurable in many ways. Following are some of His blessing for this year 2008. New House for family of late Bishop Bulus Idris Tia. With the help of God the Diocese of Khartoum was able to build a house for the family of retired Bishop Bulus Idris Tia on his own plot in Omdurman. The Cathedral was the spearheaded the project. The house is built with concrete materials that can last for many years. The Diocese owe a great deal to the Dean of the Cathedral, Canon Sylvester Thomas, Mr. Johnson Nyeko who oversaw the project to the completion and the many people who contributed to the building including Sudan Church Association in UK New Church buildings: The Diocese celebrated the opening and dedication of new church building in Hai Baraka in Haj-Yousif. The church was mainly build by self-help contribution from Christians. There was no ECS church all these years in Khartoum North, but thanks be to God that this building is standing today. The building has changed the shape of the area where many people come to visit! We hope to open new church buildings soon in Mayo and Haj-Yousif. New Archdeacons: The following pastors have been made archdeacons in the month of December. 1. Ven Khamis Ibrahim Archdeacon for Kost Archdeaconry, to replace Ven David Duot who served this archdeaconry as the first archdeacon until he travelled to Southern Sudan. 2. Ven. James Lukudu for Khartoum Archdeaconry. He has taken the position that was held by late Ven Amosa Lado who served faithfully until he passed away in 2005 in his home in Omdurman. General News: January: The year began with the visit of the Bishop of the Diocese to Juba in January to attend Peace workshop that was organized by Peace, Justice and Reconciliation Commission in the Province. The Bishop presented a paper on peace based on Northern perspective. He was also delegated to attend Board of Trustees meeting of SCC in Khartoum. February: In the month of February, the Diocese held its 8 th Diocesan Synod under the Theme of 1

God in His mercy has given us this work to do, and we are nit discouraged. 2 Cor. 4.1 The Synod elected new Diocesan Secretary, Revd. Daniel Musa and new Honorary Treasurer, Mr. Christopher Yata. The Synod also was able to make some amendments of the Constitution. The major thing that was carried out by the Synod, was the approval of the ordination of women in the Diocese. We have seen the change of leadership of the Mothers Union. Mama Elizabeth Aya who served as a leader in the Diocese for two terms stepped down and Mama Awatif Kape was elected Leader of the Mothers Union. The same month the Diocese also participated fully in the election of the new Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan. The Bishop contested to the post of the Archbishop, where Bishop Daniel won with clear majority. March: The month of March besides the normal and Pastoral work of the Diocese, Women World of Prayer was conducted at the Church of Saviour, Omdurman where a good number of people particularly women attended. Easter Celebration was another significant event in the Diocese as every Easter, the Diocese organizes Easter Celebration on Easter Monday where all ECS Christians plus non ECS come together to celebrate the Resurrection on Jesus. This year it was in Haj-Yousif, Takamul where about 3 thousand Christians gathered to praise God for what He has done for them on the Cross and the new life that Jesus brings into their lives. The bishop was able to accompany the General Secretary of the World Council of Church to Juba in which he paid Solidarity Pastoral visit to Sudan. April: April month, the Diocese welcomed the convening of the Board of TEE for northern cluster in which Bishop Ismail of Diocese of El Obied is the chair. The other big event is the Diocesan participation in the enthronement of the New Archbishop of ECS in Juba, the Most Revd. Dr. Daniel Deng Bul. It was wonderful occasion of which Archbishops of Kenya, Rwanda and representatives of Canterbury, Uganda, Jerusalem have attended. May: The month of May was interesting one. In one week the Diocese experienced two different occasions in nature. Fist a happy one while the other a sad one. On 2 nd the Diocese celebrated a graduation of SBTI students the occasion which was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Theological Education the Rt.Revd. Hillary Garang, Bishop of Malakal. It was a wonderful and joyous occasion. However on the 10 th just to be encountered with the JEM attack of Omdurman where many people got killed. The Diocesan Offices was like a battle field as it was the main road of the Diocese which the JEM soldiers used to attack Omdurman. The Bishop s residents is on the same location. We say that God s hand was on the us because many bullets fell in the compound but no one was injured! 2

June: The month of June was the month for ordination and licensing of Readers for the 3 archdeaconries in the 3 towns. The services were held in the Church of Saviour, Baraka Church in Haj-Yousif and All Saints Cathedral Khartoum. Elizabeth Aya was first woman to be ordained in the Diocese followed the approval of the ordination of women by the Synod in February. July: The month of July and part of August spent in Uk for the Lambeth Conference and had the Bishop and his wife had the opportunity to visit the Sister Dioceses of Salisbury and Bradford. August: The Diocese was able to welcome and receive the Archbishop of the ECS towards the end of August where he was able to speak to all Pastors in the Diocese. The occasion that was attended by more than two hundred pastors. The Archbishop promised to come back to Khartoum to meet and talk to the ECS intellectuals. September: In September the Diocese organize and re-ordained pastors who returned from the former bishops of Rumbek and Kadugli respectively. The occasion was well arranged and the Bishop of Kadugli was the preacher where both bishops of Khartoum and Kadugli explained reason why these pastors have to go through the process of ordination once again. October: October month, the Diocese organized celebration of the 10 th anniversary of the establishment of the Translation Department. This department is responsible not only for the translation of the Bible, but for developing of the local languages. Thank God that, so far one of the tribes has been able complete new Testament, and that is Tira language. November: November month, the Diocese welcomed John Poole from the Sister Diocese of Bradford, John Poole is finance person for the British Bible Society and he had visited Sudan in the eighties. It was good to have him again. The same month, the Diocese also was charged with the responsibility of exhuming the remains of Archbishop Elinana Ngalamu from Khartoum to be reburied in Juba where the Bishop was made chairman. The work was well planned through the help of many people who got involved to make it a success. December: The month of December was dedicated for Pastoral visit outside Khartoum. The repost is below. 3

General information: All the different institutions and groups in the Diocese have been working well. The Mothers Union, the Youth and Sunday School, have been the most active group in the Diocese. The SBTI continues to offer theological training to both men and women for the ministry. The Translation Department continues to develop local languages and translate the word of God. Soon we will celebrate the New Testament in the Tira language which has been completed. Pray that it comes out from the customs. Schools continue to offer education the children throughout the diocese. Pastoral Visit of the Bishop of Khartoum to Kosti, Damazin and Medani archdeaconries as from 6-26 December 2008 The Diocesan Bishop of Khartoum, Rt. Revd. Ezekiel Kondo this year decided to celebrate Christmas of 2008 outside his See and be with his flock in one of the archdeaconries. The visit began on the 6 th and ended on 26 th December 2008. 1. Kosti Archdeaconry 6-11 December It was a privilege to have Rt. Revd. Justin Badi Arama, Bishop of Maridi and his wife Joyce. They came to visit Khartoum and were able to join the team for two days before they went back to Khartoum and then to Maridi. One priest and 5 Deacons were ordained and a good number of Lay Readers were licensed both male and female. 56 people were confirmed. The team that consisted of the Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Revd. Ezekiel Kondo, Diocesan Secretary, Revd. Daniel Musa, Diocesan Mothers Union Leader, Mama Awatif Emmanuel Kape, Evangelism and Mission Coordinator, Mr. Amoko Fadomula, and Director of Planning and Development, Mr. Is hag Kodi Kodi were well received by the Christians in Kenana. The bishop was able to open a church that was renovated with an iron roof in Kenana. The team was accommodated in the Kenana Sugar company and in one of the houses of the Christians in Kenana. The team was able to visit Biar 4 Parish, Kadugli Kenana Parish where there is also a school, St. Paul Parish, Asalaya Parish, and Kadugli Kosti church plus the Church house in Kosti. At the end of the visit, the team was invited by the government Advisor in his house for breakfast. It was excellent time with the advisor. He even filled our car with fuel! The team left Kost to Damazin with 5 bags of sugar one bag each excluding other gifts! 2. Damazin Archdeaconry 11-18 December 4

In Damazin, the team stopped in Singa Parish where we were received and welcomed two kilo meters away from the church by Christians including small children age 7 and we the team has to get down from the car and walked with them! It was the most enjoyable time as non Christians got out to see and now what was going on. The Archdeacon of Damazin came to receive us in Singa. On Friday 12 th December there was a service where 28 people were confirmed on of the candidates came all the way from Kosti to get confirmed in Singa because she missed confirmation in Kosti! One Deacon was ordained and a number of Lay Readers and Women Workers. The following day the team proceeded to Damazin and the welcome was in the church after which the team went to one of the houses belonging to the Christians where they would stay for the next 5 days. Sunday service was conducted with 15 people confirmed, 7 licensed Lay Readers of which 2 of them were from Kurmuk, people of the area. It is to be noted that there is only one pastor from Kurmuk in the Episcopal Church of the Sudan. 6 members of the Mothers Union were commissioned. The was able to visit the governor of Blue Nile State in his office and the governor assured the Bishop and the team the cooperation of the government with the church and the mosque where there is equal budget for both the church and mosque from the State budget! The team prayed in the governor s office. The Commander of JIUC in Damazin organized high supper for the team in their b residence and the team offered prayers for God s protection. The team then came back via Sinnar where they prayed in church centre and had a wonderful lunch before they took off to Mendani. 3. Medani Archdeaconry 18-26 December The team arrived at St Paul s Medani where they were received and welcomed by the Christians and the Archdeacon and pastors of the area. Prayers were offered for the safe arrival, supper and the team was taken to Tyrannous Centre where they will stay for the next 7 days. The programme began on Friday 19 th December with the visit and service in Hessasha Parish Kilo 7 where 17 people got confirmed. This parish is one and half ours drive north of Medani. On Saturday 20 th the team visited St Peter Parish, Fao where there was good reception and a fruitful service. The journey that took us one hour drive east of Medani. On Sunday 21 st ordination service and license of Readers took place in the morning where 5 Deacons were ordained, 12 Readers and a number of Mothers Union Workers were commissioned. In the evening, Confirmation service took place where 94 people were confirmed and both services were well attended and full of joy. The team was able to visit some 5

Christians and pastors in their homes and had meals with them. The exciting thing on this visit, one of the Muslims invited the team for supper and asked that we should pray for them. Christmas Day was a big celebration at St Paul s Medani in which the government attended to congratulate the Christians for the birth of Jesus. The bishop was interviewed on the gezira local TV. In our visit to Medani, God blessed a woman with twin boys and they were named after Amoko and Ezekiel. The visit ended with Big Breakfast in one of the newly licensed Readers, Mama Elizabeth. The team arrived safely to Khartoum and went to All Cathedral Khartoum before each goes to his/her own home. This was to offer thanks and praises to God for successful Pastoral visit. Thanks be to God for the Good Samaritan who donated a car to the Bishop for Church work! This was the first trip on this car. Though it is a second hand car but it is good enough to be used for some time a head. Summary: Two Priests were ordained Eleven Deacons were ordained Seventeen Lay Readers were licensed Members of the Mothers Union Hundred and ten people were confirmed Prayer needs: Maintenance of schools in Kenena, Kosti and Damazin Building of church in Kost, Singa, Sinnar, Damazin Hesassah, Fao and Gezira Completion of Bishop s House in Medani Transport for the new Bishop to be in Medani Thanksgiving: Successful pastoral visit. For the newly confirmed candidates For the woman who gave birth to twin boys For the good relationship of the government in all the States, particularly, in Damazin 6